It is
a unique opportunity and a great honor to participate in this Summit, known as the
Millennium Summit, in order to reflect together on common values, challenges and
objectives for the future.
We
extend our very special thanks to His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General,
who has provide us with a detailed report on the role of the United Nations in the new
century we have begun. This document is an invaluable guide and is certain to stimulate
the discussions to be held in this forum.
We
believe that the strengthening of the organs and bodies of the United Nations is of great
interest in order to enhance the effectiveness of its role in, inter alia, peacekeeping
and international security, poverty eradication, the elimination of environmentally
unsound activities and the strengthening of health and education programmes.
Nicaragua
is in full agreement with the proposal contained in the SecretaryGeneral's report on
carrying out reforms within the Security Council in order to achieve more equitable and
democratic representation of the various regions, thereby promoting greater balance and
representation.
Within
this line of thinking, we wish to propose that the Final Declaration should take into
account the need to strengthen the International Court of Justice with the aim of offering
States the option of peacefully resolving any disputes which may arise between them.
We
also believe it is of paramount importance to reaffirm our commitment to maintaining and
strengthening the universal calling of the United Nations, in order to ensure that all
peoples of the world, without differences or discrimination, can be fairly represented.
This
leads us to reiterate before this Assembly what we believe is the right of the Republic of
China, which, for more than a half century, has exercised FULL sovereignty in Taiwan and
has a population of more than 22 minion people, to participate as a fully fledged member of the United Nations, having
been a signatory of its original Charter in San Francisco, and being in full compliance with its principles.
Given
the realities and challenges before us in the twenty-first century, we accord priority to
the formulation of policies and strategies whose mains focus is the well-being and
integral development of the human being, through a frontal, joint and concerted battle
against the scourges of unemployment and poverty, with all their devastating and degrading
consequences of human dignity and our future.
During
the twentieth century which recently came to an end, the human race witnessed dazzling and
astounding changes, and progress in numerous areas of science, technology, culture,
communication and informatics. There were also substantial, and even radical,
transformations in geopolitics, ideologies, trade, finance and so many other areas. And
the vast universe of ideas and perceptions, of realities and virtual realities, was not
excluded.
Unfortunately,
we also lived through horrible tragedies and conflicts, which, in many regions, took a
huge toll on peace, democracy, human rights and freedoms, further aggravating poverty,
backwardness, suffering, deprivation and enormous differences.
This
new century will be witness to a spectacular globalization process, overwhelming and
unstoppable, whose forms, levels, impact and significance could never have been imagined a
few years back. Thus, today, we have the enormous responsibility of channeling our best
efforts, early and effectively, to achieve, at leas minimum levels of the transfer of
science and technology to developing countries.
Nicaragua
is making great efforts to consolidate democracy with social justice, reconstruct the
extensive damage recently caused by powerful natural phenomena, heal the wounds of painful
and destructive civil war, which, fortunately, we overcame, and lay solid groundwork for a
development process characterized by profound change, stability and appropriate levels of
governance.
I wish
to take this memorable opportunity to express Nicaragua's appreciation and gratitude to
those countries which have lent us their warm and generous support through timely and
respectful international cooperation.
The continuous
deterioration in the terms of trade, and ill which has become chronic, to the detriment of
those countries with less developed economies, mainly producers and exporters or raw
materials for export, coupled with the debilitating impact of oil price increases, has
severely aggravated efforts to realign and revive our economies.
Compounding
this burden and these sacrifices is the unbearable weight of an immense external debt,
representing an insurmountable barrier to overcoming poverty and unemployment. In this
respect, we are pleased to note the interest recently shown by the developed countries and
multilateral financial institutions in seeking alternatives that would substantially
relieve the situation of the heavily indebted poor countries. We hope that this interest
will soon be reflected in specific and meaningful actions, so that countries like
Nicaragua can break this vicious circle of poverty, and look towards a future with greater
opportunities and expectations for sustainability and progress.
Another
major challenge we must energetically address is that of the conservation and sound use of
natural resources, parallel to environmental protection at the local, regional and global
levels, a matter of vital importance for the future of the human race. Within this
context, natural disaster prevention and" response are of equally great importance.
I
should point out that, in the report recently submitted by the Secretary-General to the
Economic and Social Council, my country is mentioned as the third in Latin America to have
an integrated disaster prevention and mitigation system.
The
ideas, proposals and resolutions we adopt today, in this universal forum will, barring an
act of fate, largely determine the face of the future we hope to see tomorrow. Although
thinking about the future was once the mysterious province of initiates, prophets, poets
and fortune-tellers, I am confident it will be that of statesmen, too, knowing that if we
put forth our best efforts, imagination and enthusiasm we will succeed in making this face
of the future kinder and more promising for our peoples and generations to come.
Many
thanks.
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